Top

Journal of Public Health

Published in:

Open Access 04-03-2023 | Natural Disasters | Original Article

Natural disasters and perinatal mental health: what are the impacts on perinatal women and the service system?

Authors: Rochelle Helena Hine, Eleanor Mitchell, Lara Whitehead-Annett, Zoe Duncan, Adelle McArdle

Published in: Journal of Public Health | Issue 5/2024

Abstract

Aim

The perinatal period is characterised by radical change across multiple domains. When it coincides with natural disasters, women and families need targeted support to mitigate the impacts on their birthing and early parenting experiences. Disaster planning in Australia has paid scant attention to the needs of this group. This study aimed to explore rural maternal and child health nurses’ perceptions of how women receiving postnatal care during times of disaster manage mental health and wellbeing issues.

Subject and methods

Eight female maternal and child health nurses (MCHNs) were recruited through purposive sampling across two rural regions of Victoria, Australia. A qualitative design using an online survey followed by in-depth interviews, was underpinned by intersectional feminist theory. Thematic analysis was applied to qualitative data.

Results

Three overarching themes: context of practice, impact of disasters on mothers, and impact of disasters on services were identified. Isolation for mothers was highlighted, necessitating increased provision of emotional support, at a time when service providers themselves were under strain.

Conclusion

Natural disasters exacerbate stressors on perinatal rural women and can impede their access to formal and informal supports, jeopardizing mental health outcomes. Targeted investment in rural perinatal services to enable proactive planning and implementation of disaster strategies is urgently needed to reduce the impact of natural disasters on rural perinatal women and their families.

Available only for authorised users

Adams C, Hooker L, Taft A (2019) The Enhanced Maternal and Child Health nursing program in Victoria: a cross-sectional study of clinical practice. Aust J Prim Health 25(3):281–287. https://doi.org/10.1071/PY18156CrossRef

Boxall H, Morgan A, Brown R (2020) The prevalence of domestic violence among women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Australasian Policing 12(3):38–46. https://search.informit.org/doi/epdf/10.3316/informit.435862482298266

Braun V, Clarke V (2006) Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qual Res Psychol 3(2):77–101. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1191/1478088706QP063OACrossRef

Campbell AM (2020) An increasing risk of family violence during the Covid-19 pandemic: strengthening community collaborations to save lives. Forensic Sci Int Rep 2:100089. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2665910720300384CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Campo M, Tayton S. (2015) Domestic and family violence in regional, rural and remote communities: An overview of key issues. Australian Institute of Family Studies. Available from: https://apo.org.au/sites/default/files/resource-files/2015-12/apo-nid61033.pdf

Elfgen C, Hagenbuch N, Goerres G, Block E, Leeners B (2017) Breastfeeding in women having experienced childhood sexual abuse. J Hum Lact 33(1):119–127. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28079443/CrossRefPubMed

Enarson E, Fothergill A, Peek L (2018) Gender and disaster: foundations and new directions for research and practice . In: Rodríguez H, Donner W, Trainor J (eds) Handbook of disaster research. Handbooks of sociology and social research. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-63254-4_11CrossRef

Fox SE, Levitt P, Nelson CA III (2010) How the timing and quality of early experiences influence the development of brain architecture. Child Dev 81(1):28–40. https://srcd.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2009.01380.xCrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Glenn E, Chang G, Forcey L (eds) (2016) Mothering: ideology, experience, and agency. Routledge, Abingdon, Oxfordshire

Gribble K, Peterson M, Brown D (2019) Emergency preparedness for infant and young child feeding in emergencies (IYCF-E): an Australian audit of emergency plans and guidance. BMC Public Health 19(1):1278. https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-019-7528-0CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Hardy K, Hooker L, Ridgway L, Edvardsson K (2019) Australian parents' experiences when discussing their child's overweight and obesity with the maternal and child health nurse: a qualitative study. J Clin Nurs 28(19-20):3610–3617. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31162886/CrossRefPubMed

Hine R, Reupert A, Tchernegovski P, Sheen J, Maybery D (2020) Covid-19 and vulnerable families living in rural locations: building a system for recovery. Child Youth Serv 41(3):261–265. https://doi.org/10.1080/0145935X.2020.1834995CrossRef

Hooker L, Nicholson J, Hegarty K, Ridgway L, Taft A (2021) Maternal and child health nurse's preparedness to respond to women and children experiencing intimate partner violence: A cross sectional study. Nurse Educ Today 96:104625. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0260691720314751CrossRefPubMed

Malpass A, West C, Quaill J, Barker R (2019) Experiences of individuals with disabilities sheltering during natural disasters: an integrative review. Aust J Emerg Manag 34:60–65 https://knowledge.aidr.org.au/resources/ajem-april-2019-experiences-of-individuals-with-disabilities-sheltering-during-natural-disasters-an-integrative-review/

Maushaut S (1997) The mask of motherhood. Random House Australia, Sydney

McCauley K, Elsom S, Muir-Cochrane E, Lyneham J (2011) Midwives and assessment of perinatal mental health. J Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs 18(9):786–795. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21985681/CrossRefPubMed

Mercer RT (2004) Becoming a mother versus maternal role attainment. J Nurs Scholarsh 36(3):226–232. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15495491/CrossRefPubMed

Ollivier R, Aston M, Price S et al (2021) Mental health and parental concerns during COVID-19: The experiences of new mothers amidst social isolation. Midwifery 94:102902. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33421662/CrossRefPubMed

O'Sullivan A, Monk C (2020) Maternal and environmental influences on perinatal and infant development. Future Child 30(2):11–34. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1293581.pdfCrossRef

Pfitzner N, Fitz-Gibbon K, Meyer S (2022) Responding to women experiencing domestic and family violence during the COVID-19 pandemic: Exploring experiences and impacts of remote service delivery in Australia. Child Fam Soc Work 27(1):30–40. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/cfs.12870CrossRef

Rogers J, Kelly UA (2011) Feminist intersectionality: Bringing social justice to health disparities research. Nurs Ethics 18(3):397–407. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21558115/CrossRefPubMed

Schmied V, Fowler C, Rossiter C, Homer C, Kruske S (2014) Nature and frequency of services provided by child and family health nurses in Australia: results of a national survey. Aust Health Rev 38(2):177–185. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24589385/CrossRefPubMed

Shortall S (2016) Changing configurations of gender and rural society. In: Shucksmith M, Brown D (eds) Routledge international handbook of rural studies. Routledge, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, pp 349–356

State of Victoria (2021) Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System final report, summary and recommendations, Pearl Paper No. 202, Session 2018–21 (document 1 of 6). Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System, Melbourne, Australia. Available from: https://finalreport.rcvmhs.vic.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/RCVMHS_FinalReport_ExecSummary_Accessible.pdf. Accessed 18 Feb 2022

Suardi F, Rothenberg M, Serpa SR, Schechter D (2017) Trauma and parenting: informing clinical practice with recent research findings. Curr Treat Options Pediatr 3(1):1–4. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40746-017-0075-yCrossRef

Suwalska J, Napierała M, Bogdański P et al (2021) Perinatal mental health during COVID-19 pandemic: an integrative review and implications for clinical practice. J Clin Med 10(11):2406 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34072357/CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Usher K, Bhullar N, Durkin J, Gyamfi N, Jackson D (2020) Family violence and COVID-19: Increased vulnerability and reduced options for support. Int J Ment Health Nurs 29(4):549–552. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7264607/CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Victorian Government Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (2020) 2019–20 Eastern Victorian bushfires: Learn more about the 2019–20 bushfires, including the impacts and recovery progress. Victorian Government, Melbourne, Australia. Available from: https://www.vic.gov.au/2019-20-eastern-victorian-bushfires. Accessed 22 Feb 2022

Victorian Government Department of Health (2021) Maternal and Child Health Service Framework. Victorian Government, Melbourne, Australia. Available from: https://www.health.vic.gov.au/maternal-child-health/maternal-and-child-health-service-framework. Accessed 22 Feb 2022

Wakida EK, Talib ZM, Akena D, Okello ES, Kinengyere A, Mindra A, Obua C (2018) Barriers and facilitators to the integration of mental health services into primary health care: a systematic review. Syst Rev 7(1):211. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30486900/CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Wendt S (2009) Constructions of local culture and impacts on domestic violence in an Australian rural community. J Rural Stud 25(2):175–184. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Constructions-of-local-culture-and-impacts-on-in-an-Wendt/72c6c6aed7265e1cbd85e8bf2bee0b543520cfe3CrossRef

Title: Natural disasters and perinatal mental health: what are the impacts on perinatal women and the service system?
Authors: Rochelle Helena Hine
Eleanor Mitchell
Lara Whitehead-Annett
Zoe Duncan
Adelle McArdle
Publication date: 04-03-2023
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keyword: Natural Disasters
Published in: Journal of Public Health / Issue 5/2024
Print ISSN: 2198-1833
Electronic ISSN: 1613-2238
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-023-01855-y

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Natural disasters and perinatal mental health: what are the impacts on perinatal women and the service system?

Abstract

Aim

Subject and methods

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Aim

Subject and methods

Results

Conclusion

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 5/2024

Values and tensions of a health education program based on evidence-based medicine: a qualitative study

The quality of gender and sex integration in scientific articles resulting from health research funded by the Brazilian Ministry of Health 2004–2016

Correction to: Childhood vaccine hesitancy in two regions with different socioeconomic backgrounds in Turkey

A vaccine literacy scale for childhood vaccines: Turkish validity and reliability vaccine literacy scale

The correlation between individuals’ attitudes toward cancer screening, cancer information overload, and healthy life awareness: a cross-sectional study

Investigation of the effect of COVID-19 on attitudes of university students towards family violence